Digital Information Library and Delivery System

Abstract

A computer network based digital information library system employing authentication and encryption protocols for the secure transfer of digital information library programs to a client computer system and a mobile digital information playback device removably connectable to the client computer system. The present invention is a computer network based library and information delivery system for accessing and obtaining selected digital information files. The library and information delivery system comprises: 1) a library server having a plurality of digital information files; 2) a client computer system coupled to the library server over a network; and 3) a mobile device removably connectable to the client computer system, the client computer system including logic for requesting a download of a selected one or more of the digital information files from the library server, the client computer system further including logic for downloading the selected one or more of the digital information files to the mobile device.

1 . A method comprising: transferring targeted digital information files to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, wherein the targeted digital information files on the removable media storage are rendered by a mobile device having one or more identifiers, only if targeting information for the digital information files corresponds to the identifiers of the mobile device so as to indicate that the mobile device is authorized to receive the targeted digital information files. 
   
   
       2 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player identifier. 
   
   
       3 . The method in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player group identifier. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital information files are transferred to fixed storage on the mobile device prior to rendering. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the digital information files is transferred to the removable media storage depending on storage space available in the removable media storage. 
   
   
       6 . A computer-readable medium having executable instructions to cause a processor to perform a method, the method comprising: transferring targeted digital information files to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, wherein the targeted digital information files on the removable media storage are rendered by a mobile device having one or more identifiers, only if targeting information for the digital information files corresponds to the identifiers of the mobile device so as to indicate that the mobile device is authorized to receive the targeted digital information files. 
   
   
       7 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player identifier. 
   
   
       8 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player group identifier. 
   
   
       9 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein the digital information files are transferred to fixed storage on the mobile device prior to rendering. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 6 , wherein a portion of the digital information files is transferred to the removable media storage depending on storage space available in the removable media storage. 
   
   
       11 . A computer system comprising: a processor coupled to a memory through a bus; and a process executed from the memory by the processor to cause the processor to transfer targeted digital information files to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, wherein the targeted digital information files on the removable media storage are rendered by a mobile device having one or more identifiers, only if targeting information for the digital information files corresponds to the identifiers of the mobile device so as to indicate that the mobile device is authorized to receive the targeted digital information files. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player identifier. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the mobile device comprises a playback device, and wherein the one or more identifiers comprise a player group identifier. 
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the digital information files are transferred to fixed storage on the mobile device prior to rendering. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein a portion of the digital information files is transferred to the removable media storage depending on storage space available in the removable media storage. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus comprising: means for receiving targeted digital information files; and means for transferring the targeted digital information files to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, wherein the targeted digital information files on the removable media storage are rendered by a mobile device having one or more identifiers, only if targeting information for the digital information files corresponds to the identifiers of the mobile device so as to indicate that the mobile device is authorized to receive the targeted digital information files. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for targeting the digital information files using a player identifier. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for targeting the digital information files using a player group identifier. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising means for transferring the digital information files to fixed storage on the mobile device prior to rendering. 
   
   
       20 . A computer based library and information delivery system comprising: a computer system connectable to a public network, the computer system including logic for transferring targeted digital programming content to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, and further comprising at least one mobile device each having one or more identifiers;
 wherein each mobile device includes:   logic for reading the targeted digital programming content from the removable media storage; and   logic for rendering the targeted digital programming content to a user only if targeting information in the digital programming content corresponds to the identifiers of the mobile device, so as to indicate that the mobile device is authorized to receive the targeted digital information files.   
   
   
       23 . A computer based library and information delivery system comprising:
 a computer system connectable to a public network, the computer system including logic for transferring targeted digital programming content to a removable media storage through a media reader/writer interface, the computer system further including logic for rendering the targeted digital programming content by a mobile device having one or more identifiers only if the identifiers of the mobile device corresponds to targeting information in the digital programming content.   
   
   
       24 . The computer based library and information delivery system of claim  21 , wherein the digital programming content are targeted using a group identifier. 
   
   
       25 . The computer based library and information delivery system of claim  21 , wherein the digital programming content are targeted using a player group identifier. 
   
   
       26 . The computer based library and information delivery system of claim  21 , wherein the digital programming content is transferred to fixed storage on the mobile device prior to rendering. 
   
   
       27 . The computer based library and information delivery system of claim  21 , wherein a portion of the digital programming content is transferred to the removable media storage depending on storage space available in the removable media storage.